Entry 2

For observations taken on 10/26/2012:

-Roughly the top third of the water within the Aquarium had evaporated. I was instructed to replace the water with other water from a bottle prepared by the instructor, not from the source I used. No life forms could be observed in areas lacking the water.

-The dirt initially within the Aquarium was more evenly dispersed than I had observed previously.

-No changes had taken place with the placement of the Amblestegium or the Utricularia Gibba, despite the lowering of the water level.

Organisms.
I observed many organisms this time, some of which I was able to identify with the aid of the instructor. I will limit my description in this posting to a selection of what I was able to identify, as I would not be able to give much meaning to organisms I could not. All images identified with the aid of the instructor and Patterson's Free Living Freshwater Protozoa.

This Vorticella (Patterson 2009) I found near the bottom of the tank, growing off a dirt particle. It ingests water using a corona it has, and it circulates it through the funnel structure.

 

I found this Lacrymaria (Patterson 2009) floating freely in the water of the cell. Note how it extends its flagella for movement.

 

Other organisms I found included a Euplote (Patterson 2009), a microbial insect that appeared to be as a cockroach, and several organisms that appeared to be Midge, which appeared to be a caterpillar that hid in dirt to swiftly attack its food sources. Unfortunately, I was unable to take any clearly identifiable photos of the former nor confirm the identity of the latter.

 

Things of note to do in next observation:

-Record model of microscope used.

-Analyze how the food pellet added may have had an effect on the organisms

-Analyze what effects replacing the water with different water might have had.



 

Citations

Cook, R, McFarland, K. 2013. General Botany 111 Lab Manual. 14th ed. Knoxville (TN).

Jahn, F. 1949. How to know the Protozoans. Dubique (IO): W.M.C Brown Company Punlishers. 102, 127, 211p.

Patterson, DJ. 2009. Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa: A Colour Guide. Manson Publishing. 113 p.

Prescott, G.W. 1954. The Freshwater Algae. Dubique (IO):W.M.C Brown Company Publishers. 71, 230p.

Rainis, K.G and Russell, B.J. 1996. Guide to Microlife. Danbury (CT): Groiler Publishers 155p.

Entry 1

Materials (10/16/12):
A Microaquarium - glass prism with a cap for an open end and a base opposite to it for observation. Dimensions and brand to be determined.
Water - Drawn from a specific source (the UT hospital pond for me). Must include water drawn from the sediment layer, layer above sediment layer, and surface layer.
Amblestegium and
Utricularia Gibba - Plants containing life forms to interact with the water they are placed in.
Microscope - For conducting observation. Model to be determined.

Setup:

1. I was given a small fiberglass prism of as of yet indeterminate dimensions, open on one end. Coming with it were a cap for the open end and a base for the end opposite the open end.

2. I was told to fill prism with water from a specific source, one of twelve. I chose the seventh source, water drawn from the pond at the University of Tennesee hospital upon Cherokee Trail. I was required to draw the source from three separate layers of the water provided: some from the dirt at the bottom, some from the water immediately above that, and some from the surface layer. The measurements were unspecified. I attempted to fill the prism (henceforth to be referred to as the "aquarium") with a third from each layer.

3. I was then told to fill the aquarium with two separate plants, Amblestegium and Utricularia Gibba. I kept them spread as far as I could in order to be able to view the full breadth of their contents and perhaps see life from one interact with the other.

4. Finally, I was to observe the aquarium under a microscope.

Findings:
I found several organisms, mostly among the plants, the Gibba in particular having many signs of life. I saw spherical organisms moving quickly among its leaves and out of sight, too fast for my microscope to follow. I saw undulating tuba-shaped structures coming off the leaves of the plant itself, and most promininently, I saw a microscopic translucent insect, apparently feeding on unknown black particles that appeared to be berries. I dubbed it "Scruffy".